Operating Systems for Scaling Companies
OPERATOR
17 years building the operational infrastructure that lets ambitious companies scale without breaking. From winning a $70M Microsoft contract and onboarding 150 people across 5 countries to scaling startups through acquisition — I design the playbooks, processes, and systems that turn founder-led chaos into repeatable growth. Now with AI-powered workflows baked in.
Daniel Canton
@dancanton
SYSTEM MODULES
End-to-end operating systems that scale. SOPs, cadences, KPI packs, launch calendars, and the reporting backbone your company runs on — built across 17 years of operating at every stage.
> Series A-C startups & SMBs scaling past founder-led ops
From multi-agent n8n workflows to production-connected AI bots — I find the highest-impact automation opportunities and deploy them. Not AI for AI's sake — AI that frees your team to focus on what matters.
> Teams with repetitive ops workflows ready for automation
Embedded ops support for critical phases: product launches, market entry, post-funding scale-up. I run the sprints, unblock the team, and ship.
> Companies in product launch, market entry, or post-funding scale-up
Tool selection, CRM/analytics setup, workflow automations, and data infrastructure. Eliminate manual work and unlock the insights hiding in your operations.
> Teams drowning in manual work or disconnected tools
Embedded operational leadership on a build-sprint + governance retainer. For companies that need an experienced operator to install the system, hire the team, then step back.
> Companies that need an operator, not a hire
Hands-on advisory for early-stage founders navigating growth, fundraising, and operational maturity. Ops due diligence, exec-ready dashboards, and investor-facing operations — get your house in order before the capital comes in.
> Early-stage founders navigating growth & fundraising
ENGAGEMENT PROTOCOL
Map the current state. Identify what's working, what's breaking, and where the quick wins are hiding.
- ▸Operational audit
- ▸Stakeholder interviews
- ▸Current-state mapping
- ▸Quick-win identification
Architect the system. Define the strategy, select the tools, and build the roadmap your team will actually follow.
- ▸Strategy blueprint
- ▸Process architecture
- ▸Tool selection & stack design
- ▸Implementation roadmap
Deploy the operating system. Implement processes, enable the team, ship the infrastructure, and iterate until it sticks.
- ▸System implementation
- ▸Team enablement & training
- ▸Tool deployment & integration
- ▸Iteration cycles
Maintain and optimize. Governance retainer to keep the system running, monitor KPIs, and continuously improve.
- ▸Governance retainer
- ▸KPI monitoring & dashboards
- ▸Quarterly business reviews
- ▸Continuous optimization
THE OS FRAMEWORK
Three pillars. One sequence. Operational clarity.
Strategy & Decision-Making
How your company makes decisions, tracks performance, and maintains organizational clarity. The blueprint everything else builds on.
> 6 focus areas
Process & Documentation
How resilient your operations are — documentation, onboarding, escalation, and institutional knowledge. The system that survives any single departure.
> 6 focus areas
Technology & AI
How effectively you leverage tools, automation, AI, and data to accelerate operations. The multiplier on everything you've built.
> 6 focus areas
Architecture → Infrastructure → Acceleration
Each pillar builds on the last. Automate a broken process and you scale the chaos. Get the structure right first.
DEPLOYMENTS
Moravia × Microsoft — $70M Contract Win
Key player in the RFP process that won a 3-year, $70M contract with Microsoft's Cloud & Enterprise division. Onboarded the largest localization account in company history — 150 people across 5 countries in under 5 months.
→ 150 people onboarded across 5 countries in under 5 months
Whyline — COO Through Acquisition
COO from seed stage through acquisition by Clear. Led product ops, solution architecture, and the SeaTac airport RFP that triggered the deal.
→ Built ops infrastructure from zero → acquisition by Clear
Olivine Marketing — 2x Revenue Growth
Took a product marketing agency from $1M to $2M/yr as Managing Director. Ran full P&L, professionalized operations, and co-built the client acquisition engine — enabling the founders to focus on their own startups while keeping the agency running.
→ Revenue doubled ($1M → $2M/yr), founders stepped back from day-to-day
AI Startup — Company OS Build
Designed sprint process, product positioning, and operational stack for a pre-seed AI startup. Integrated CRM, analytics, and automation layer from zero.
Translation Agency — Turnaround
Interim director for an 11-month restructuring. Redefined pricing, operational processes, and hired the new permanent director.
Startup Advisory — Active Advisor
1.5-year engagement with weekly strategy sessions. Guided the CEO on product-market fit, operational decisions, and growth.
SYSTEM SIGNALS
“Through his vision, dedication, and relentless focus on excellence, he not only led us to win the largest business in our industry but also built and flawlessly ran a world-class operational and delivery organization that consistently exceeded expectations. Daniel embodies what true leadership looks like — driving success not just through strategy, but through people and purpose.”
“Daniel pushed us to be more ambitious. He designed the operational processes that drove the scale of our client base and gave us the confidence to go after bigger engagements, and more engagements. More than that, he's completely trustworthy and a true friend. Can't imagine growing and selling Olivine without him. I dearly hope we work together again someday. 10/10 would recommend to a friend!”
“Daniel has a rare combination of operational skill and visionary creativity! He's never afraid to think totally outside the box, and leads with an ethos that the right solution is always possible with some ingenuity and dedicated time. Most importantly, Daniel was a warm and encouraging leader who is genuinely invested in each team member's professional growth and happiness in the workplace. It was a pleasure to work for him for many years!”
Teri Madonna
Ops Manager, Olivine